Personal journey with bilateral plantar fasciitis surgery
Plantar Faciotomy Post-Op Appointment Today
21Aug2008 Filed under: Immediate Post-Surgery Author: Christina
Hey there!
First I want to thank you for your support, prayers and encouragement throughout this process. You are an amazing friend! 
Today my mom took me to my post operative appointment and it went very well.
After the plantar fasciotomy surgery they wrapped my foot pretty good with gauze and something else that reminded me of an almost rubberlike material you can use to line your shelves with so that plates and glasses don’t move around on the shelf. When my foot would swell at all during the last week that wrapping got pretty snug on my foot. Today the doc said my foot was wrapped to help reduce swelling.
During the last few days I’ve had sharp shooting pains. I thought it was because I tweaked my foot and just wasn’t paying attention to it. Apparently the shooting pains are just part of surgery and recovery.
I was SO relieved at the appointment today when my doc removed the gauze. It was as if my foot was free and could breathe! We had to leave the foot wrapped and couldn’t take a peek at the surgical site. My mom is going to take a picture of my foot tomorrow so you can see where the incision is. The stitches are pretty big, but the actual incision is small, less than an inch. It’s on the inner of my foot below the ankle.
There’s pretty much no swelling and it looks pretty good. We thought my foot was swollen at least a little, but it was all the gauze they piled onto the surgery site to protect it.
My surgery was Tuesday before last so that puts me at 9 days post-op today.
I can’t yet put weight on my foot (I wouldn’t want to anyway). I go back to my doc next Thursday (one week) so he can remove the stitches. Did I mention previously that I’ve never had any kind of surgery before? It’s been quite an experience.
Now that my foot is free from gauze I can take showers without having to try and keep my foot dry. Yay!! I just change the gauze/bandage once a day and apply antibiotic ointment. My mom picked up some Neosporin from the store, but I’m going to order some antibiotic ointment from Melaleuca. I just feel better about putting their products on my body than stuff in the store. Much better.
Last night I did use the last of my pain medication so we got a refill today. I try not to take much of it and icing (putting ice on my foot) really helps with that. Now last night the ice wasn’t helping because I had a lot of sharp pains. It was awful, but thankfully it didn’t last longer than an hour.
Today my doc told me that the frequency of the sharp pains should begin to lessen at this point. Removing all of the gauze/wrapping from my foot today will help with that.
The purpose of this surgery was to “release” part of the plantar fascia – surgically cut it so that only half of it is still attached to the heel. Today when my doc was pressing on the area around the heel and surgical site it didn’t really hurt. I’d have to say that so far so good, very good.
I felt a lot better hobbling out of the office on my crutches than I did when I hobbled in. My foot was somewhat free, my foot looked pretty good and I’m free to take a normal shower. What more could I ask for?! LOL
New Note: Oops! I had to come back and add a note. I forgot to tell you that my second surgery is scheduled. It will be at the same place, same time on September 23, 2008. Plantar Fasciitis surgery round 2!
7 Responses to “Plantar Faciotomy Post-Op Appointment Today”
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About this blog
When I started thinking about having surgery for my plantar fasciitis I spent hours researching online. I could only find one personal experience with plantar fasciotomy and it hadn't been updated in a long time.
So I thought I'd chronicle my journey from beginning to end and post updates as time goes on as to how well the surgeries worked for me. I'll be having two - one surgery for each foot. I have bilateral plantar fasciitis.
I also created this blog so that my family, friends, associates and clients could easily check my progress and chat with me during recovery.
So if you're visiting this blog way after I've had surgery, I hope the information you find here helps. If you're one of my family members, friends, associates or clients, I hope you'll post lots of comments because your support will keep me going strong through post-op recovery.
Regardless of when you stop by, I'm glad you're here!
Disclaimer...
I am not a doctor or licensed professional. Information presented on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be used to replace the advice of your doctor, physical therapist or other medical or licensed professional. Information presented on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure plantar fasciitis, foot pain or any other condition or illness. No statements have been evaluated by the FDA or other government or medical entity.
This is just me sharing my experiences with you. What works for me may not work for you or anyone else. If you have or suspect you have a medical condition such as plantar fasciitis or other foot pain, please see your physician immediately for proper care.
Important Site Hint:
To see my current progress and recent posts click here or on the "Home" link at the top of this page.
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val
August 21st, 2008 at 10:20 pm
YEAH! Your back online at least a little bit. Missed ya!
Sharon Miller
August 24th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Wow, Crutches – you’re moving on up. Soon you’ll be racing with them! LOL The first time I was on crutches, I was 7 1/2 months pregnant – not a good combo!
Glad to hear all is going well!
Christina
August 24th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Thanks, Val! Yep, online now some and it feels good.
LOL, Sharon. No races for me any time soon. I can NOT imagine being on crutches while pregnant. Sounds like torture to me.
Helen L. New Mexico USA
September 18th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Hi, Christina. read your posting after searching Google for post-op advice on Plantar Fascia surgery. (Had my surgery via endoscopy today, Left foot was done in 2003). Glad your recovering well. So far I seem to be sailing thru today but after reading your post I will be on the look out for pain? I am on tip-toe weight bearing for 48hrs followed by a hopping step for the following week until my 1st post-op appt. (I wear a post-op shoe). No crutches here and didn’t require them last surgery. However I went back to work after 5 days and rushed myself thus healing took a bit longer.
Best wishes to you, hope your pain subsides soon.
sincerely, Helen
Christina
September 20th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Hi Helen and congratulations on the success of your first surgery. Your recovery will be quite different from mine because I had open surgery not endoscopic. That makes a big difference in the recovery time. Did you doctor advise you to apply ice? I thought ice was just for pain and swelling, but it actually aids in the healing process because it brings fresh blood and oxygen to the surgical area. Does your post-op shoe keep your foot at a 90 degree angle to your leg? That is important so the plantar fascia doesn’t reattach.
I hope you’ll stop back by, Helen and let us know how you’re doing recovering from your endoscopic surgery.
Judy
October 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I just had the sugery and am quite sparkly.8 weeks ago. Why are you having another sugery ??and on the same foot??? i feel i should be healed by now and it is quite painful.
Christina
October 17th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Hi Judy, my surgery is going to be on my other foot. I have bilateral plantar fasciitis. If you click on the “Home” link at the top of the page you’ll see my most recent posts. I just posted a 2-month post op update. I still have pain as well, but my surgeon told me it would be a 3-month recovery process. Have you spoken with your doctor about the pain you are having?